Thursday, January 5, 2012

Thailand Clean energy for green low-carbon growth

Thailand needs to avoid the high-carbon growth path of many developed countries and, instead, take a low-carbon growth path. A green low-carbon growth path is in Thailand's own interest as it can simultaneously tackle local environmental degradation, global climate change, and energy security challenges. It can also position Thailand as a regional leader in green, sustainable growth. Green low-carbon growth in Thailand could focus on the following four pillars: 1) maintaining rapid economic growth while adjusting the country's economic structure toward a less energy, and carbon-intensive economy; 2) achieving greater urbanization while shifting toward green livable low-carbon cities; 3) meeting the huge thirst for energy while transforming the energy sector toward one of high energy efficiency and widespread diffusion of low-carbon technologies; and 4) improving quality of life while shifting toward a resource-efficient and sustainable lifestyle.

Thailand needs to avoid the high-carbon growth path of many developed countries and, instead, take a low-carbon growth path. A green low-carbon growth path is in Thailand’s own interest as it can simultaneously tackle local environmental degradation, global climate change, and energy security challenges. It can also position Thailand as a regional leader in green, sustainable growth.

• Green low-carbon growth in Thailand could focus on the following four pillars:

3. Meeting the huge thirst for energy while transforming the energy sector toward one of high energy efficiency and widespread diffusion of low-carbon technologies

4. Improving quality of life while shifting toward a resource-efficient and sustainable lifestyle.

• Changes in the economic structure toward an innovation-driven, high-tech, and service-sector-based economy is a key driver to reduce energy and carbon intensity in Thailand. Despite the government’s efforts, Thailand’s economic structure has shifted over the last decade toward dominance of the energy-intensive industrial sectors-a main reason for the rising energy intensity.

• Building green livable low-carbon cities requires a holistic multisector approach to integrate compact urban form, green buildings and renewable energy supply, sustainable transport, and efficient water and waste management. Bangkok’s carbon dioxide emissions per capita are already high compared to the leading developed cities. Higher density and more mixed-use urban design can substantially reduce energy demand and emissions. Urban public transport is the key to improving green mobility. Green buildings require strengthening enforcement of building codes.

• To greatly improve energy efficiency and achieve the goals of the Energy

Efficiency Development Plan (EEDP), Thailand needs to increase the use of pricing and fiscal measures and performance-based energy-saving targets. The government has actively adopted policies and financing mechanisms to promote energy efficiency, but energy intensity has not changed much over the last decade. The government is committed to reducing energy intensity by 25 percent from 2005 to 2030, among which the transport and industrial sectors offer the largest energy savings. Containing energy growth in the transport sector requires mandatory fuel economy standards, fuel taxes and road pricing, and public transport infrastructure. Industrial-performance-based energy-saving targets can be more effective than the current input-based energy managers program. Finally, the Standard Offer approach can be an innovative and cost-effective way to scale-up the Energy Conservation Promotion Fund.